Monday, May 14, 2012

Top 14 - Final Round Wrap

Round 26, the final round, of the French Top 14 was played on Saturday, confirming Brive´s relegation to the Pro d2 along with Lyon and confirming Racing Métro as the sixth placed French side joining Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Toulon, Castres and Montpellier in the Top six and therefore qualifying for the 2012-2013 Heineken Cup. As such Racing Métro will take on the third placed Toulon in one of the two barrage play-off matches scheduled for May 26 while the fourth placed Castres will host Montpellier in the other, one day earlier in what is a rematch from last seasons barrage match when Argentina´s Martín Bustos Moyano eliminated Castres. By virtue of finishing first and second in the regular season, Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse are rewarded with automatic qualification for the Semi Finals and will face the winners of the barrage matches. The exit of Brive to the second division continues a tradition of Southwestern French sides exiting as the competition is increasingly being spread to more areas of the country and is also seeing the small town teams benig replaced by big city teams.

The final round was another case in point of why Rugby World Cup 2023 ought to take place in Argentina as Pumas players both experienced and young were on show in large numbers, scoring tries and putting in solid performances. Moreover, Argentine players were joined by players from Canada, Uruguay and the USA as the Americas, the last frontier for Rugby World Cups, continues to contribute greatly to the global game.

Agen 25-22 Racing Métro

The new sensation, Juan Imhoff scored a try playing on the left wing and was joined in the backthree by Juan Martín Hernández. Backrower Alvaro Galindo joined the pair in playing the full match. Juan Orlandi was a 54th minute replacement. None of Agen´s three Pumas featured.

Canadian Jamie Cudmore played secondrow for the winners. Three former Puams played for Brive with Agustín Figuerola playing scrumhalf and scoring a try. Pablo Henn started atr loosehead prop and tighthead prop Pablo Cardinali played the full secondhalf.

Toulouse 20-13 Montpellier

Pumas secnodrower Patricio Albacete played 67 minutes for Toulouse but scurmhalf Nicolás Vergallo did not feature. Lucas González Amorosino played fullback for Montpellier and Martín Bustos Moyano was the left winger, kicking one penalty and a conversion. Juan Figallo started in his Pumas position of tighthead prop and Agustín Creevy at hooker. Pumas inside back Santiago Fernández came on in the 56th minute while Maximilano Bustos was unused from the bench.

Lyon 5-29 Toulon

The man expected to lead Los Pumas, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe played the full match for Toulon, scorign a try. His Pumas backrow colleague, Juan Manuel Leguizamón did not play however.

Castres 31-29 Bayonne

Uruyan international, Rodrigo Capó Ortega started for Castres.

Biarritz 15-6 Stade Français

USA winger Taku Ngwenya played in the 14 shirt for Biarritz and Pumas centre Marcelo Bosch played fullback. Francisco Gomez Kodela came into the frontrow in the 49th minute while secondrower Manuel Carizza entered in the 62nd. Pumas legend Rodrigo Roncero played his final game of French rugby and Felipe Contepomi played at inside centre and Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga was a 54th minute replacement.